Report: Canucks down to last cut

With the Vancouver Canucks demoting forwards Anton Rodin, Michael Chaput, Jayson Megna and goaltender Richard Backman to the AHL’s Utica Comets yesterday, the team has just one cut left to make before they open the season against the Edmonton Oilers on Saturday night.

What we know for sure is that the final cut will be a forward, and likely one of Darren Archibald, Brock Boeser or Jake Virtanen. Both Boeser and Virtanen has acquitted themselves very well this preseason and both look to have a bright future in Vancouver. Archibald though, who is currently signed to an AHL level deal, brings a different element to the Canucks lineup by providing a physical presence each and every shift.

So, who’s going home and who’s sticking around? Head coach Travis Green isn’t tipping his hand just yet. “Are we having a tough decision? Yeah it is tough when it comes to putting your final team on the ice,” say Green to Global BC’s Jay Janower yesterday afternoon. Green, however stopped short of naming any of the above mentioned players when admitting that he has a tough decision to make saying, “We have to cut one more player - everyone is on the bubble.”

Everyone? Is this just Green’s poker face? Or could he be looking past Archibald and the youngsters at a player like Alex Burmistrov or Derek Dorsett?